Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Ninth Judicial District Attorney Brett Carter announced Friday that a Curry County grand jury has indicted Steve Robert Duran on murder charges in connection with the death of Ricardo Gallegos, 49, of Clovis.
Carter said Duran shot and killed Gallegos on Jan. 13 during the commission of a robbery on Sunrise Street in Clovis, fled the scene, and was later arrested. An eyewitness and several Clovis police officers testified before the grand jury on Friday, which also indicted Duran on charges of armed robbery, possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Duran will be arraigned within 14 days in Curry County District Court at which time a trial will be scheduled.
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Three individuals from Clovis were indicted Friday by a Curry County grand jury on charges related to sexual molestation or child abuse of three girls under 12, Carter said.
Billy Martin, 49, was indicted on 10 counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and abuse of a child. His wife Jeanette Martin, 44, was indicted on one count of child abuse. Anastacio Esquibel, 23, of Clovis, was indicted on 33 counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, seven counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, and kidnapping.
Carter said the incidents took place between October 2002 and Sept. 22, 2003, at the Martins’ home at 710 E. 10th St. in Clovis.
All three defendants were evaluated for mental competency and found competent to stand trial.
A competency report is still pending on the fourth subject accused in the incidents, Harry Robbs, 40, of Clovis.
All those accused are in the Curry County Adult Detention Center; arraignments will be held within 14 days in Curry County District Court at which time a judge will set trial dates.
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The Clovis Police Department will conduct a free window tint clinic from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Friday at the police station, located at 300 N. Connelly St.
The clinic will educate motorists on New Mexico’s window tint laws and check the tint on vehicle windows so motorists will know whether they are in compliance with state law.
Tint meters recently purchased by the police department allow officers to check the percentage of sunlight allowed through window tinting materials.
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The Region V Drug Task Force has served or attempted to serve drug search warrants to three Clovis addresses in recent weeks, according to Sgt. Jay Longley of the task force.
About 8 a.m. Feb. 11, Peter Robles, 33, was arrested at the 500 block of Ewing Street after a search warrant was executed at a residence where officers said they found about a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine, one gram of crack cocaine, and a small amount of marijuana.
According to court records, Robles was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to traffic, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, bringing contraband into a prison, and possession of marijuana.
Curry County Adult Detention Center officials said he was released Feb. 11 on a $41,000 bond, but Robles could not be reached for comment.
Two other operations with search warrants did not result in arrests.
No one was at home about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when task force officials arrived at the 900 block of Gamma Street, but officers said they found about five pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $8,000 and would obtain arrest warrants for at least two people associated with that residence.
About 7 p.m. Wednesday, officers served a search warrant at the 800 block of Stanton and said they located $3,900 cash and about 14 ounces of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $35,000. Longley said arrest warrants are pending in the case.
Cops and Courts is compiled by CNJ staff writer Darrell Todd Maurina. He can be contacted at 763-6991 or:
